May 13, 2015

Senator Mark Warner Senator Johnny Isakson475 Russell Senate Office Building 131 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, DC 20510 Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator Warner and Isakson:

Second Wind Dreams, Inc. and the Virtual Dementia Tour® support the bipartisan Care Planning Act. The landmark bill you have introduced would improve care for those with advanced illness by ensuring they have the tools they need to make informed choices based on their goals, values, and preferences.

The Care Planning Act would ensure that patients with advanced illness receive the care they want: no more, no less. Your bill provides patients with Medicare coverage for voluntary, team-based discussions of prognosis and care plans throughout the progression of advanced illness, not just at the end of life. Critically, the bill also ensures that this benefit is both meaningful and of value to patients, through the development of quality measures to ensure concordance with patient values. We are also pleased to see mechanisms to enhance the use and portability of Advance Directives across care settings and state lines.

Second Wind Dreams® (SWD®) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1997. This organization is changing the perception of aging through the fulfillment of dreams and educational programs including its flagship program, The Virtual Dementia Tour® (VDT). The Atlanta-based organization has fulfilled thousands of dreams with help from community and corporate involvement. The VDT is a scientifically proven method that builds sensitivity and awareness in individuals caring for those with dementia by temporarily altering participants’ physical and sensory abilities. This evidenced-based program simulates changes associated with cognitive decline. This patented program offers hope by providing practical ways to create an environment that supports the disease and increase understanding. 

The Care Planning Act will go a long way to furthering our mission to change the perception of aging especially for those with advanced illnesses by giving them the opportunity to be involved in decisions with no fear of those well thought-out decisions being changed. Our goal at SWD is to help those in the care continuum maintain the highest quality of life by fulfilling their dreams and providing the best dementia training possible to insure those caring for them maintain the dignity and respect they deserve. All too often the person with dementia loses his/her rights and suffers the worst human indignity of being treated as though they are no longer a viable participant in their care. This act will keep the person front and center in the care planning where they belong.

Thank you for your bipartisan leadership on this important policy. Second Wind Dreams shares your commitment to patients’ quality of life and ensuring that they have the tools they need to make choices that are right for them and their families, and look forward to continuing to work with you on this bill. Feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

P.K. Beville, M.S.Founder and President, Second Wind DreamsAuthor, Virtual Dementia Tour Seriespk@secondwind.orgwww.secondwind.org678-624-0500678-429-6874